The Boroughs trailer teases Netflix's new Stranger Things replacement

The adults are talking

Fresh off the success of Stranger Things, the Duffer Brothers are set to return as executive producers of a brand-new show: The Boroughs. The series (created by Jeffrey Addis and Will Matthews) follows a group of elderly retirees who, after joining a picturesque retirement community, must come together to confront a sinister threat from another world.

Starring Geena Davis, Alfred Molina, Alfre Woodard, Bill Pullman, Clarke Peters, and Denis O’Hare, The Boroughs has been described by those involved as "Stranger Things meets Cocoon" — referring to Ron Howard's 1985 hit that follows residents of a Florida care home discovering an alien fountain of youth. It's a description that feels particularly obvious but also relevant to what was shown in Netflix's teaser trailer. In the first footage, we see Molina's character, Sam Cooper, joining the community as a newcomer, but his arrival seems to signal stranger things to come. It's awfully similar to Eleven's arrival in Hawkins, and the strange circumstances that coincided with it.

However, the major difference between the kids of Stranger Things and the group of The Boroughs? Their age. While Stranger Things is more of a "coming-of-age" story, The Boroughs' characters already have years of experience and bring that experience to their investigation of the alien threat that plagues their community.

I cannot overstate how much the idea of a group of elderly folk putting the smackdown on a cunning alien entity fills me with joy. I've enjoyed plenty of "rites of passage" stories in my time, and they always feel relevant whenever I want to talk to my inner child. As I've grown older, my desire to see characters with more relatable experiences has only grown. I understand the appeal of younger protagonists — they have a more youthful, naive perspective that works well for telling a story. But I'm far more fascinated by the perspectives of people who so often aren't the heroes of these tales, because society often regards aging as a moral failure rather than an opportunity to tell fresh stories that draw on age and experience.

I'm clearly not the only one who wants to see more older protagonists in the things I watch. The Thursday Murder Club — featuring stars like Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan — was a Netflix darling when it released last year.

What's clear is that the Duffer Brothers don't want age to be a punchline, but one of many factors that make the characters of The Boroughs compelling.

"While the characters are a little older than the kids in Stranger Things — they ride golf carts instead of bikes — the spirit is very much the same,” the Duffer Brothers explain. “At its core, this is a story about belonging and growing up — no matter your age — filled with adventure, wonder, comedy, scares, and tears. And most importantly, you’re going to fall in love with these characters."

After years of watching youthful faces lead entertainment, will The Boroughs make a big enough splash to change that? Let's hope so. The show streams on Netflix starting May. 21.​